Circuit closer for flashlights



Oct. 3, 1944. o. T. wooo 2,359,597

CIRCUIT CLOSER FOR FLASHLIGHTS Filed May 28, 1942 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 A TTORNEYS Oct. 3, 1944. o. T. WOOD CIRCUIT CLOSER FOR FLASHLIGHTS Filed May 28 1942' 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 b g a a 5 7 ,1. H1 1 5 1 2 5 j 9 lia w. a

g m m a. M. 5 0 1 1 if! 6 J Oct. 3, 1944. o. T. WOOD CIRCUIT cLosERfoRF LAsHLIGHTs Filed Ma 28, 1942 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 F IGM.

' INVENTOR ORV/LL15 Z fl aop ATTORNEY S Patented Oct. 3, 1944 CIRCUIT CLOSER FORFLASHLIGHTS Orville T. Wood, Clinton, Mass., assignor to Blake Manufacturing Corporation, Clinton, Mass., a corporation of Massachusetts Application May-28, 1942, Serial No. 445,109

18 Claims..

This invention relates to electric flashlights and hand lanterns of the kind in which a removable battery of dry cells is connected and disconnected at will to an incandescent lamp from which the light is reflected in a given direction.

More particularly the invention relates to a circuit closer for such flashlights.

The primary object of the present invention is to provide a circuit closer which may be readily disassembled from a flashlight so that broken parts may be replaced and the circuit closer reassembled into the flashlight.

Another object of the invention is a flashlight switch which readily adapts itself to assembly and disassembly with respect to the flashlight without the use of tools.

It is also an object of the invention to provide a flashlight in which the switch or circuit closer is positively locked in at least open circuit position to prevent accidental exhaustion of the battery when the flashlight is carried in a. tool box or otherwise not in use.

Still another object of the invention is a flashlight circuit closer characterized by few parts and whereof the component parts are simple of construction and easily replaced.

The invention also seeks a flashlight to which the circuit closer of this invention may be readily adapted.

Yet another object of the invention is a circuit closer particularly adapted to a so-called insulated flashlight.

These and other objects of the invention and the means for their attainment will be more apparent from the following detailed description, taken in connection with the accompanying drawing illustrating one embodiment by which the invention may be realized, and in which:

Figure 1 is a view, in side elevation, showing a flashlight to which the present invention. has been applied, parts being sectioned to show details of construction;

Figure 2 is a transverse sectional view of the circuit closer taken in the plane indicated by the line 2-2 of Figure 1, looking in the direction of the arrows and with the contact strip in open circuit position;

Figure 3 is a perspective view showing the circuit closing contact strip of this invention;

Figure 4 is a View showing a modification of the circuit closing means;

Figure 5 is a transverse sectional View taken in the plane indicated by the line 55 of F gure 4;

Figure 6 shows a modified form of the invention of Figure 4;

Figure 7 is a transverse sectional view of the structure shown in Figure 1 taken in the plane indicated by the line 'l-'! of Figure 6;

Figure 8 i a sectional view taken in the plane indicated by the line 8--8 of Figure 6;

Figure 9 is a View showing the fastening device of this invention;

Figure 10 is a view in side elevation of the fastening device of Figure 9 Figure 11 is a view; in longitudinal section, showing a modification of the fastening means;

Figure 12 is a view, in transverse section, taken in the plane indicated by the line l2l2 of Figure 11-, looking in the direction of the arrows; and

Figure 13 is a View of the slide of Figure 12 showing particularly the surface adjacent the flashlight casing.

Referring first to Figure 1, the flashlight to which the present invention is illustrated as applied is a so-called insulated flashlight whereof no metal parts are exposed so that the flashlight may behandled and set down among electrical equipment without danger of short circuit. As shown, the flashlight casing comprises a metallic cylindrical shell 1 threaded at its one end, as at 9, which, in the illustrated embodiment, is what may be considered the bottom end of the fiashlight and at its opposite or upper end increases progressively in diameter, as at H, to a cylindrical threaded portion I3.

The threaded upper end 13. supports the rim or lip 15 of the reflector N, there being insulation 19 surrounding the lip 15 whereby the refiector is insulated from the conductive casing l'l Resting on the insulation [9V is a lens 2| of any desired characteristic. Lens 2| is held in position on the threaded end 13. of the casing by a lens ring 23 screwed on to the threaded end [3.

The reflector is illustrated as of the type shown in copending application Serial Number 180,949 filed December 21, 1937, now Patent No. 2,274,17 8 issued Feb. 24, 1942. The lamp is supported within the reflector by a cup-shaped enclosure 25 which terminates in a contact 21 adapted to make electrical connection with the central terminal 29 of the battery 3|, the battery 3| being held against the contact 21 by a battery positioning spring 33 in the bottom cap 35. Cap 35 is removably secured on the threaded end 9 of the casing. The circuit is completed from the battery positioning spring 33 through the casing l and contact strip Bl of the circuit closer of this nal which is not electrically connected to the battery terminal 29.

The flashlight of this invention is completely covered by insulating material. In the illus trated embodiment, the casing is enclosed by a cylindrical outer casing member 39 of dielectric material, such as fiber. As shown, the lower end of this fiber covering 39 terminates at a point which permits the bottom cap to be screwed on the lower end of the casing. The bottom cap is illustrated as covered by a removable insulating cap 4| preferably of rubber, having a flexible lip 43 adapted to overlie the lower end of the fiber casing 39.

The upper end portion of the flashlight is enclosed within a member of insulating material, preferably rubber, consisting of a cylindrical portion 45 having the inturned lip 41 which overlies the lens ring 23 and a constricted somewhat thinner and more flexible rubber portion 49 which terminates in a flexible annular lip 5i which overlies the upper end of the fiber housing 39 so that, by means of these three elements 39, 4| and 45-5l of insulating material, all the metallic parts of the flashlight are completely enclosed or covered by dielectric material.

The circuit closer of this invention is particularly applicable to a flashlight of the character just described although by no means confined in its use thereto. An opening 53, preferably rectangular, is formed in the dielectric outer casing 39. This opening is preferably of its longest dimension in the longitudinal direction of the casing. The metallic inner casing l is formed with an opening substantially registering with the opening 53 and having an outwardly deflected tongue or lip El integral therewith which extends upwardly and forwardly in the opening 53 to serve as a stop for the circuit closer in this retracted position. This lip 5'! is an edge or surface'angularly related to the contact strip 8|. The rear end of the slot 55 in the brass case i is thus deflected upwardly for two purposes. The first purpose is to help retain the fiber tube and the brass tube piercings 53 and 55 in register. The second purpose is to provide a sloping guide surface against which the rearmost end 9| of the contact strip will cam or slide out of the opening 53 during the time when the strip is inserted into the slide.

Slidable on the outer surface of the dielectric casing 39 is the slide or thumb piece El which may conveniently be rectangular in plan, and of transverse and longitudinal dimensions to materially overlie the surface of the casing 39 on all sides of the opening 53 in all positions of the slide. The surface of the slide 6! proximate the dielectric casing 39 is formed of a curvature whose radius is substantially that of the radius of the outer surface of the dielectric casing 39, as shown at 93 in Figure 2.

The upper surface or exposed surface of the slide 6| may be of any convenient configuration to permit engagement by the thumb, say, of the hand holding the flashlight, to permit the manipulation of the circuit closer. Thus, in the illustrated embodiment, forwardly of the midpoint of the slide 6|, the slide is formed with an elevated portion and is then of progressively changing thickness in a vertical dimension to a low point 61 from which point the slide is of increased thickness, as at 69, but O 6 .61 th ck- CAD ness than the portion indicated at 95 and is corrugated or otherwise roughened, as at I, to provide a surface which will be conveniently engaged by the thumb of the manipulator without slipping.

At a thicker portion of the slide and on the axis thereof, the inner surface 63 is formed with a rectangular recess 13 which receives a sleeve of rectangular cross-section secured in position on the slide by means, say, of a screw 11. In order to permit access to the head of the screw H, the inner face of the sleeve 15 is slotted, as at 19, and in register with the aperture through which the screw passes. The slot is of increased diameter sumcient to permit the passage of the head of screw 1? as shown in Figure 2.

Carried with the slide 5| within the casing member I is a reciprocating contact strip indicated generally at BI and shown in perspective in Figure 3. At this forward or upper end, the contact strip is deflected somewhat, as at 33, as a contact surface to engage and make electrical connection with, say, the reflector ll of the flashlight. Intermediate its contact portion 83 and the slide, the contact member is formed with a longitudinal rib 85 for strength and to space slightly the contact member from the inner con ductive casing That portion of the contact strip 8| proximate the slide 6| is offset inwardly, as at 8?, and is formed with inwardly deflected tongues 89 and 99 which are shown in Figure 3 as four in number, two along each edge of the strip and directed toward one another to form stops, it being observed that the spacing of the tongues 89 and 90 are such as to snugly receive between them the bottom 18 of the sleeve 15 on the slide when the circuit closer 8| is disposed in its normal position within the sleeve 15.

Rearwardly of the opening 55, the inner conductive casing is formed with an inwardly offset portion or boss 59 having angularly related sides or ends 58, 69, that is, sides which slope in the direction of the axis of the casing I and of 7 a dimension, in the circumferential direction of the inner casing 'l, conveniently less than the circumferential dimension of the opening 55. At its rear end, the circuit closer 8| is provided with a radially directed bent-up end portion or lug 9| which normally bears on the inner surface of the conductive casing l to retain the contact member 8| in spaced relation to the inner casing 1. Thus, the lug 9| and the olTset 8'! together with the rib 85, if present, serve to hold the sliding contact 8i against the inner side of'the sleeve 15 so that it cannot work loose as the slide is manipulated. When the lug 9| is at the rearmost portion of the boss 59, it serves, to some extent, as a retaining latch for the open circuit position of the switch contact strip. When the switch contact strip is advanced to the closed circuit position, the lug 9| will then be positioned forwardly of the boss 59 so as to releasably retain the switch contact strip in closed circuit position.

Additional latching means are provided for the contact in open circuit position to prevent the inadvertent closing of the circuit and exhaustion of the batter when the flashlight is not in use, say, when carried in the pocket or a tool box. As shown, a strip-like latching member 93 of suitable resilient material is secured at one end within the recess 13 and is formed with successively inwardly offset portions 9! and 99, the off-.

set portion 99 being formed with a radially extending outwardly bent latching end which is 50 positioned as to be engaged by an inwardly deflected stop I93 struck inwardly from the casing member I. To actuate the latch IOI in order to release the slide for movement to closed circuit position, the portion 67 of the slide is formed with a radially extending passage. Conveniently this passage is of one dimension at its outer end, as at I05, and'of a greater dimension, as at I01, at its inner end. Thus a plunger I09, I I I is disposed in the passage. It is of a length somewhat greater than the thickness of the slide at this point so that it can be normally held with its end of smaller diameter outwardly of the slide for convenient engagement by the finger. The head III of the plunger is disposed in the passage portion of increased diameter and is normally urged upwardly into engagement with the shoulder by the engagement therewith of the portion 9! of the resilient latch member 93. To release the latch, in order to permit the slide and contact strip to be moved to circuit closed pc sition, it is merely necessary to depress the plunger with that finger of the same hand that manipulates the slide.

To retain the slide against lateral movement and to form a gui-deway or channel for the contact 8| to move in, semi-circular bosses US are struck inwardly in the conductive casing I two on each side of the path of the Slide 8| so that the opposed straight sides of these bosses form, in efiect, the walls of a groove within which the contact 8| reciprocates. These bosses also space the battery 3| from the contact member 8|.

The structure just described permits the circuit closer to be readily disassembled. To remove the switch in the flashlight illustrated, the flexible rubber hood is first rolled back away from the lens ring 23 and the lens ring which carries the lens and reflector assembly is then unscrewed from the flashlight casing. Obviously, if no insulatory material such as the hood 45, 49, 5| is present, it would merely sufiice to remove the lens ring and withdraw the reflector and lamp socket to permit access to the interior of the casing. The batteries, if present, would then be removed so as to permit the insertion of a finger.

For removal, the slide 6! is moved to circuit closed position, shown in Figure 1. The finger is then inserted and pressure exerted against the inner surface of the offset portion 81 say, between the lug 9| and the adjacent pair of tongues 90. Pressure against the tensioned contact strip at this point moves the offset portion as a whole inwardly within the sleeve and releases engagement of the tongues 90 with respect to the wall I8 of the sleeve permitting the contact member 8! to be slid forwardly by the frictional engagement of the finger which eX- erts the pressure and removes the strip out the open end of the casing. The slide BI is then free to be lifted off the casing, carrying with it the sleeve I5.

Assembly of the circuit closer is accomplished by reverse of these steps. The slide is first placed in position with the sleeve entering the openings 53 and 55, the sleeve I5 being in the rearmost end of the openings, i. e., the end toward the bottom cap. The contact strip 8| is then inserted with the deflected end 9| directed toward the casing I and pushed through the sleeve I5 until the tongues 89 and 90 snap into place on opposite sides of the sleeve I5 when the switch is assembled and ready for operation.

Modifications of the means to attach the sleeve I5 to the slide 6| are illustrated in Figures 4 through 8.

In the modification of Figures 4 and 5, the slide 6| and its associated parts are identical with that heretofore described except for the fact that the slide is formed with a cylindrical lug H5 and the apertures in the sleeve I5 and latching member 93 are formed with apertures to fit over the lug H5. Both sleeve and latching member are retained in position on the lug by a fastening device illustrated in Figures 9 and 10 as comprising a piece of resilient sheet material III such as spring steel, which may be circular or rectangular or polygonal in outline and is formed with a rectangular opening |I9 stamped therefrom and is slotted along opposite sides, as at |2|, to define two free wings I23. When this member II! is forced on the lug H5 and against the sleeve I5, the wings I23 engage the lug, say, by biting into the lug slightly, as shown, and urge the sleeve I5 and latching member 93 tightly against the slide and hold it in position. This is an expeditious way of assembly and securely holds the parts in proper position.

In lieu of a separate fastening device In, the sleeve and the latching member may be formed as an integral member, as shown in Figures 6 through 8. Here the latching member I2! is formed in its innermost side I29 with the engaging means of Figures 4 and 5.

The innermost side of the sleeve I5 is formed with the rectangular aperture II9 (Figure 8) and slotted as at IZI so that when forced on the lug I I5, the forked edges of the wings I23 will bite into the lug, as in Figure 7, and hold the sleeve tightly in position. The end of the latching member I2? is widened transversely, as at I3I, and the sides I3I are bent downwardly, as at I33, and inwardly to provide a sleeve similar in function to the sleeve I5 but providing a combined latching member and contact strip carrying sleeve which has incorporated therein the fastening means of this invention.

In lieu of fastening means on the principle of Figures 9 and 10, the somewhat different fastening device of Figures 11, 12 and 13 may be adopted. Here the slide I35 is formed with a rectangular recess I37 and the bottom of this recess is formed with a narrower recess I39 and at the center of the recess I39 the slide is formed with a cylindrical recess I4! formed with a keyway or slot I43. The apertured end 9| of the latching member 93 of the Figure 4 modification is fitted in the recess I39 and positioned thereagainst is a sleeve I substantially the same as the sleeve I5 but formed with an outwardly offset portion I41 which fits within the recessed portion l3! of the slide. A cylindrical plug I49 having a head I5I passes through the apertures in the latching member and the sleeve and enters the hole I 4|. Adhesive I54 fills the space be tween the slide portions and the portions of the latch and sleeve and also enters the key-way to securely hold the parts in position,

It will be recognized that while the circuit closer of this invention is particularly applicable to an insulated flashlight, that it is equally applicable in any situation where a circuit is to be closed by a sliding contact member and no limitation is intended by the phraseology of the foregoing description, or illustrations in the accompanying drawings, except as indicated in the ap. pended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. In a flashlight, circuit closing means capable of being dismantled without the use of tools comprising the combination with an open ended casing formed with an opening intermediate its ends, a slide disposed wholly on the outer surface of the casing and movable over the opening, a tubular sleeve, disposed in the opening and comprising an outer side secured to the slide, side walls extending through the opening and an inner side within the casing in radially spaced relation to the slide, a resilient contact strip within the sleeve and supported on the inner side of he sleeve and formed remote from one end of the sleeve with an outwardly offset portion in spaced relation to the sleeve and engaging the casing and also formed remote from the opposite end of the sleeve and spaced therefrom with an offset portion engaging the casing to thereby place the intermediate inwardly offset portion of the strip under tension in spaced relation to the casing in position in the sleeve whereby said strip may be disengaged from the sleeve by a finger inserted through the open end of the casing and depressing the intermediate portion of the strip outwardly toward the casing and out of engagement with the sleeve, said casing being provided with latching means, and a resilient latch carried by the slide and engaging the latching means in open circuit position of the strip.

2. In flashlight, circuit closing means capable ofheing dismantled without the use of tools comprising the combination with an open ended casing formed with an opening intermediate its ends, a slide disposed wholly on the outer surface of the casing and movable over the opening, a tubular sleeve disposed in the opening and comprising an outer side secured to the slide, side walls extending through the opening and an inner side within the casing in radially spaced relation to the slide, a resilient contact strip within the sleeve and supported on the inner Side of the sleeve and formed remote from one end of the sleeve with an outwardly offset portion in spaced relation to the sleeve and engaging the casing and also formed remote from the pposite end of the sleeve and spaced therefrom with an ciset portion engaging the casing to thereby place the intermediate inwardly offset portion of the strip under tension in spaced relation to the casing in position in the sleeve whereby said strip may be disengaged from the sleeve by a finger inserted through the open end of the casing and depressing the intermediate portion of the strip outwardly toward the casing and out of engagement with the sleeve, said casing being provided with latching means, a resilient latch carried by the slide and engaging the latching means in open circuit position of the strip and. means to depress the latch torelease it from the latching means and permit the slide and strip to be moved to closed circuit position.

3. In a flashlight, circuit closing means capable of being dismantled without the use of tools comprising the combination with an open ended casing formed with an opening intermediate its ends, a slide disposed wholly on the outer surface of the casing and movable over the opening, a tubular sleeve disposed in the opening and comprising an outer side secured to the slide, side walls extending through the opening and an inner side within the casing in radially spaced relation to the slide, a resilient contact strip within the sleeve and supported on the inner side of the sleeve and formed remote from one end of the sleeve with an outwardly oiTset portion in spaced relation to the sleeve and engaging the casing and also formed remote from the 0pposite end of the sleeve and spaced therefrom with an offset portion engaging the casing to therehy place the intermediate inwardly oifset portion of the strip under tension in spaced relation to the casing in position in the sleeve whereby said strip may be disengaged from the sleeve by a finger inserted through the open end of the casing and depressing the intermediate portion of the strip outwardly toward the casing and out of engagement with the sleeve, said casing being provided with latching means, a resilient latch carried by the slide and engaging the latching means in open circuit position of the strip and a plunger movable in the slide to depress the latch to release it from the latching means and permit the slide and strip to be moved to closed circuit position.

(i. In a flashlight, circuit closing means capable of being dismantled without the use of tools comprising the combination with an open ended casing formed with an opening intermediate its ends, a slide disposed wholly on the outer surface of the casing and movable over the opening, a tubular sleeve disposed in the opening and comprising an outer side secured to the slide, side walls extending through the opening and an inner side Within the casing in radially spaced relation to the slide, a resilient contact strip within the sleeve and supported on the inner side of the sleeve and formed remote from one end of the sleeve with an outwardly offset portion in spaced relation to the sleeve and engaging the casing and also formed remote from the opposite end of the sleeve and. spaced therefrom with an offset portion engaging the casing to thereby place the intermediate inwardly ofiset portion of the strip under tension in spaced relation to the casing in position in the sleeve whereby said strip may be disengaged from the sleeve by a finger inserted through the open end of the casing and depressing the intermediate portion of the strip outwardly toward the casing and out of engagement with the sleeve, said casing being provided with latching means, a resilient latch carried by the slide and engaging the latching means in open circuit position of the strip and a plunger movable in the slide and normally elevated above the slide by the latch to depress the latch to release it from the latching means and permit the slide and strip to be moved to closed circuit position.

5. In a flashlight, circuit closing means capable of being dismantled without the use of tools comprising the combination with an open ended casing formed with an opening intermediate its ends, a slide disposed wholly on the outer surface of the casing and movable over the opening, a tubular sleeve disposed in the opening and comprising an outer side secured to the slide, side walls extending through the opening and an inner side within the casing in radially spaced relation to the slide, a resilient contact strip within the sleeve and supported on the inner side of the sleeve and formed remote from one end of the sleeve with an outwardly offset portion in spaced relation to the sleeve and engaging the casing and also formed remote from the opposite end of the sleeve and spaced therefrom with an offset portion engaging the casing to thereby place the intermediate inwardly offset portion of the strip under tension in spaced relation to the casing in position in the sleeve whereby said strip may be disengaged from the sleeve by a finger inserted through the open end of the casing and depressing the intermediate portion of the strip outwardly toward the casing and out of engagement with the sleeve, said casing being provided with latching means, a resilient strip one end of which is secured within the sleeve to the slide and having an inwardly offset first portion, a further inwardly offset second portion and an outwardly bent end engaging the latching means in open circuit position of the slide, and a plunger in the slide supported with an end above the slide by the first offset portion of the latch.

6. In a flashlight, circuit closing means capable of being dismantled without the use of tools comprising the combination with an open ended casing formed with an opening intermediate its ends, a slide on the outer surface of the casing and movable over the opening, a tubular sleeve disposed in the opening and comprising an outer side secured to the slide, side walls extending through the opening and an inner side within the casing in radially spaced relation to the slide, a resilient contact strip within the sleeve and supported on the inner side of the sleeve and formed remote from the respective ends of the sleeve with outwardly offset portions in spaced relation to the sleeve and engaging the casing to thereby place the intermediate inwardly ofiset portion of the strip under tension in spaced relation to the casing and in position in the sleeve whereby said strip may be disengaged from the sleeve by a finger inserted through the open end of the casing and depressing the intermediate portion of the strip outwardly toward the casing and out of engagement with the sleeve, of latching means carried by the casing, and a resilient latch carried by the slide and engaging the latching means in open circuit position of the strip.

7. In a flashlight, circuit closing means capable of being dismantled without the use of tools comprising the combination with an open ended casing formed with an opening intermediate its ends, a slide on the outer surface of the casing, and movable over the opening, a tubular sleeve disposed in the opening and comprising an outer side secured to the slide, side walls extending through the opening and an inner side within the casing in radially spaced relation to the slide, a resilient contact strip within the sleeve and supported on the inner side of the sleeve and formed remote from the respective ends of the sleeve with outwardly offset portions in spaced relation to the sleeve and engaging the casing to thereby place the intermediate inwardly oifset portion of the strip under tension in spaced relation to the casing and in position in the sleeve whereby said strip may be disengaged from the sleeve by a finger inserted through the open end of the casing and depressing the intermediate portion of the strip outwardly toward the casing and out of engagement with the sleeve, said casing being provided with latching means comprising an inwardly and rearwardly struck portion, and a resilient latch carried by the slide and engaging the latching means in open circuit position of the strip.

8. In a flashlight, circuit closing means capable of being dismantled without the use of tools comprising the combination with an open ended casing formed with an opening intermediate its ends, a slide disposed wholly on the outer surface of the casing and movable over the opening, a tubular sleeve disposed in the opening and comprising an apertured outer side, side walls extending through the opening and an inner side within the casing in radially spaced relation to the slide, a resilient contact strip within the sleeve and supported on the inner side of the sleeve and formed remote from the respective ends of the sleeve with outwardly offset portions in spaced relation to the sleeve and engaging the casing to thereby place the intermediate inwardly offset portion of the strip under tension in spaced relation to the casing and in position in the sleeve whereby said strip may be disengaged from the sleeve by a finger inserted through the open end of the casing and depressing the intermediate portion of the strip outwardly toward the casing and out of engagement with the sleeve, of a radially extending lug carried by the sleeve and extending through the opening and extending through the aperture in the slide and fastening means engaging the lug to retain the sleeve on the slide.

9. In a flashlight, circuit closing means capable of being dismantled without the use of tools comprising the combination with an open ended casing formed with an opening intermediate its ends, a slide disposed wholly on the outer surface of the casing and movable over the opening, a tubular sleeve disposed in the Opening and comprising an apertured outer side, side walls extending through the opening and an inner side within the casing in radially spaced relation to the slide, a resilient contact strip within the sleeve and supported on the inner side of the sleeve and formed remote from the respective ends of the sleeve with outwardly offset portions in spaced relation to the sleeve and engaging the casing to thereby place the intermediate inwardly offset portion of the strip under tension in spaced relation to the casing and in position in the sleeve whereby said strip may be disengaged from the sleeve by a finger inserted through the open end of the casing and depressing the intermediate portion of the strip outward 1y toward the casing and out of engagement with the sleeve, of a radially extending lug carried by the slide and extending through the opening and the aperture in the sleeve and fastening means comprising a plate having opposing wings engaging the lug to retain the sleeve on the slide.

10. In a flashlight, circuit closing means capable of being dismantled without the use of tools comprising, in combination, an open ended casing formed with an opening intermediate its ends, a slide disposed wholly on the outer surface of the casing and movable over the opening, a tubular sleeve disposed in the opening and comprising an apertured outer side, side walls extending through the opening and an inner side within the casing in radially spaced relation to the slide, a resilient contact strip within the sleeve and supported on the inner side of the sleeve and formed remote from the respective ends of the sleeve with outwardly offset portions in spaced relation to the sleeve and engaging the casing to thereby place the intermediate inwardly offset portion of the strip under tension in spaced rela tion to the casing and in position in the sleeve whereby said strip may be disengaged from the sleeve by a finger inserted through the open end of the casing and depressing the intermediate portion of the strip outwardly toward the casing and out of engagement with the sleeve, and an apertured resilient latch, of a radially extending lug carried by the slide and extending through the opening and the apertures in the sleeve and latch, and fastening means engaging the lug to retain the sleeve and latch on the slide.

11. In a flashlight, circuit closing means capable of being dismantled without the use of tools comprising, in combination, an open ended casing formed with an opening intermediate its ends, a slide disposed wholly on the outer surface of the casing and movable over the opening, a tubular sleeve disposed in the opening and comprising an apertured outer side, side walls extending through the opening and an inner side within the casing in radially spaced relation to the slide, a resilient contact strip within the sleeve and supported on the inner side of the sleeve and formed remote from the respective ends of the sleeve with outwardly offset portions in spaced relation to the sleeve and engaging the casing to thereby place the intermediate inwardly offset portion of the strip under tension in spaced relation to the casing and in position in the sleeve whereby said strip may be disengaged from the sleeve by a finger inserted through the open end of the casing and depressing the intermediate portion of the strip outwardly toward the casing and out of engagement with the sleeve, and an apertured resilient latch, of a radially extending lug carried by the sleeve and extending through the opening and the apertures in the sleeve and latch, and fastening means comprising a plate having opposing wings engaging the lug to retain the sleeve and latch on the slide.

12. In a flashlight, circuit closing means capable of being dismantled without the use of tools comprising, in combination, an open ended casing formed with an opening intermediate its ends, a slide disposed wholly on the outer surface of the casing and movable over the opening, a radial lug carried by the slide, a latch member having a tubular sleeve disposed in the opening and comprising an outer side formed with fastening means engaging the lug, side walls extending through the opening and an inner side within the casing in radially spaced relation to the slide, a resilient contact strip within the sleeve and supported on the inner side of the sleeve and formed remote from the respective ends of the sleeve with outwardly offset portions in spaced relation to the sleeve and engaging the casing to thereby place the intermediate inwardly ofiset portion of the strip under tension in spaced relation to the casing in position in the sleeve whereby said strip may be disengaged from the sleeve by a finger inserted through the open end of the casing and depressing the intermediate portion of the strip outwardly toward the casing and out of engagement with the sleeve, said casing being provided with coacting latching means.

13. In a flashlight, circuit closing means capable of being dismantled without the use of tools comprising, in combination, an open ended casing formed with an opening intermediate its ends, a slide disposed wholly on the outer surface of the casing and movable over the opening, said slide being formed with a recessed portion and a cylindrical recess, a tubular sleeve substantially rectangular in cross-section, disposed in the opening and comprising an apertured outer side disposed in the recess in the slide, side walls extending through the opening and an inner side within the casing in radially spaced relation to the slide, a resilient contact strip within the sleeve and supported On the inner side of the sleeve and formed remote from the respective ends of the sleeve with outwardly offset portions engaging the casing and also formed to thereby place the intermediate inwardly offset portion of the strip under tension in spaced relation to the casing in position in the sleeve whereby said strip may be disengaged from the sleeve by a finger inserted through the open end of the casing and depressing the intermediate portion of the strip outwardly toward the casing and out of engagement with the sleeve, said casing being provided with latching means, an apertured resilient latch disposed in the recess in the slide, a pin passing through the apertures and entering the cylindrical recess in the slide and adhesive securing the pin in the cylindrical recess.

14. In a flashlight, circuit closing means capable of being dismantled without the use of tools comprising, in combination, an open ended casing formed with an opening intermediate its ends, a slide disposed wholly on the outer surface of the casing and movable over the opening, said slide being formed with a recessed portion and a cylindrical recess, a tubular sleeve substantially rectangular in cross-section, disposed in the opening and comprising an apertured outer side disposed in the recess in the slide, side walls extending through the opening and an inner side within the casing in radially spaced relation to the slide, a resilient contact strip within the sleeve and supported on the inner side of the sleeve and formed remote from the respective ends of the sleeve with outwardly offset portions engaging the casing and also formed to thereby place the intermediate inwardly offset portion of the strip under tension in spaced relation to the slide in position in the sleeve whereby said strip may be disengaged from the sleeve by a finger inserted through the open end of the casing and depressing the intermediate portion of the strip outwardly toward the casing and out of engagement with the sleeve, said casing being provided with latching means, an apertured resilient latch disposed in the recess in the slide, a pin passing through the apertures and entering the cylindrical recess in the slide and adhesive securing the pin in the cylindrical recess and the sleeve in the recess.

15. In a flashlight, circuit closing means comprising the combination with a casing formed with an opening, a slide having a radial lug and movable over the opening, a sleeve formed with an aperture received on the lug, a resilient latch formed with an aperture receiving the lug and fastening means engaging the lug to retain the sleeve and latch in position on the slide, said slide being also formed with a radial aperture spaced from the lug and a plunger in the aperture operatively engaging the resilient latch.

16. In a flashlight, circuit closing means comprising the combination with a casing formed with an opening, a slide having a radial lug and movable over the opening, a sleeve formed with an aperture receiving the lug, latching means formed with an opening receiving the lug and a plate formed with opposed notched wings engaging the lug to secure the sleeve and latching means to the slide, said slide being also formed with a radial aperture spaced from the lug and 18. In a flashlight, circuit closing means comprising the combination with a casing formed with an opening, a slide formed with a keyhole recess and movable over the opening, a sleeve formed with an aperture disposed in register with the keyhole recess, a pin passing through the aperture and entering the recess and an adhesive securing the pin in the recess.

ORVILLE T. WOOD. 

